Medicinal Sage
Clary sage is a Mediterranean native that brings theatrical drama to any garden, with tall branching stems reaching 2-4 feet and crowned in showy, fragrant flowers from June through August. This frost-hardy perennial thrives in zones 5-9, tolerating drought and poor soils with ease, making it one of the most low-maintenance bloomers for full sun. Its flowers attract butterflies and pollinators while deer leave it untouched, and it self-seeds freely once established, giving you years of reliable performance with minimal intervention.
Full Sun
Moderate
5-9
48in H x 36in W
Perennial
Moderate
Hover over chart points for details
Clary sage produces wonderfully fragrant, showy flower spikes that bloom reliably from June into August, drawing butterflies and other pollinators while remaining completely deer-resistant. The plant handles drought, shallow rocky soil, and neglect with impressive resilience, asking only for full sun and well-drained soil. Its ability to self-seed means a single planting often becomes a permanent garden fixture, returning year after year with increasingly abundant blooms.
Clary sage is grown primarily as an ornamental flower plant, valued for its tall, dramatic inflorescences and ability to fill mid-border space with minimal care. The fragrant flower spikes provide cut flowers and dried arrangements, while its pollinator-attracting properties make it a strategic planting in gardens designed to support butterfly populations and beneficial insects.
Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your last frost date in a well-drained germinating mix, maintaining temperatures between 65-75°F. Seeds will sprout in 7-14 days.
Transplant hardened-off seedlings into the garden after the last frost date has passed, spacing plants 2 inches apart.
Direct sow seeds after the last frost date in your area.
Cut flower stalks before seeds are fully set to encourage plants to produce a third year of blooms, extending the productive life of biennial plants. This also prevents aggressive self-seeding in gardens where spread is not desired.
Enter your ZIP code to see a personalized growing calendar for this plant.
“Clary sage hails from the Mediterranean region, spanning southern Europe, central Asia, and northern Africa. Its journey from native wildflower to worldwide garden staple reflects its aggressive self-seeding habit; the plant has escaped cultivation in numerous regions and naturalized across parts of the northern and central United States. In some areas like Washington State, it has naturalized so successfully that it now appears on official noxious weed lists, testament to both its vigor and its ability to adapt to new climates.”